Originally Posted by Akyriacos .
OK so I am new to cycling and I have a question. Would it be OK to buy a cheap GMC Denali 700c and eventually swap out parts for better ones? Can I do something like that? I just don't want to spend a lot of money and then find out its not my zen thing. Any and all advice please.
FWIW. While
vspa is generally CORRECT that "
you will end up paying more adding parts than buying a better bike straight away" vs. buying an inexpensive bike and then changing out the components, I believe that the option which you suggest CAN BE BETTER if you are handy & know what you are doing + if you are a wise shopper (
i.e., eBay) ... BECAUSE the components will typically be
better (105 and/or Ultegra instead of Sora or Tiagra)
- 95% of what you need to know can be gleaned from www.sheldonbrown.com, www.parktool.com and YouTube
- most of the tools which you will need can be generic (typically, metric)
- some bike specific tools are required
While some of the difference between Shimano component groups can be considered to be cosmetic, there is a small weight difference AND (IMO) the greatest difference is for the person who is actually WORKING ON the adjustments -- nicer components are a
pleasure to work with when compared to some (but, not all) less expensive components ... but, not necessarily worth the price difference ...
- having said THAT, 'I' definitely recommend that possible upgrades be 105-or-better & LX-or-better rather than components from any of the lesser "groups" ...
- because CAMPAGNOLO SHIFTERS are compatible (that is, can be readily indexed to ...) with most Shimano drivetrains, 'I' highly recommend Campagnolo shifters because the net result will exceed the results you will get with an all Shimano drivetrain ... and, potentially cost less.
- if you save the parts which you remove from the bike whose components you are upgrading, then the majority of the replacement components which you buy can (also) be used on a future frame ...
- FYI. Here is a vintage Hardtail frame which was the recipient of "spare" parts which I had ...
- NOT counting the tires/saddle, I reckon I could buy a comparable mix of new & used components from eBay for well under $600 -- Ultegra rear derailleur, XT front derailleur (the frame required a top pull derailleur), Chorus shifters, etc. ...
Regardless, NOT knowing what to do when working on a bike could result in an unhappy experience ... both initially AND when updating the bike ...
- an improperly adjusted bike can be unpleasant to ride AND possibly unsafe ...
- nonetheless, it's NOT rocket science ... if you aren't blind + you are semi-literate & you can open/close a pickle jar then you can probably work on any bike which you buy
- IMO, only surgeons (dentists & dental hygenists, too) & hand models should probably not work on their bikes
If there is a problem with inexpensive and/or big-box bikes, it is the limited number of frame sizes which are available ... but, based on what 'I' have seen people ride, I think that a lot of riders are
sent-out-the-door on a bike that is not necessarily properly sized for them despite possibly having been "professionally fitted" ...
BTW. SOME people whom I know shy away from mixing components from different Shimano component lines -- for them, if it's not
Dura Ace (
or, Ultegra in some instances) then it's not good enough to be seen on their bikes (
ditto for SRAM where if it isn't "Red" then it doesn't matter that the first generation of Red front derailleurs was inferior to the Force & Rival front derailleurs because putting a Force or Rival front derailleur on the bike would make it look too hodge-podge for them) -- so, mixing different brands components is unthinkable.
BTW2. For some people, the frame (
or, the name there upon) seems to be almost everything ... presuming the frame & fork are not damaged then for most people in most riding conditions only the fit truly matters in this regard.
